Monthly Archives: December 2012

I noticed a report in the Cairns Post this morning regarding an initiative aimed at reviving Japanese tourism to Far North Queensland: THE tourism industry is pinning its hopes on a new joint Australia and Japan tourism campaign to return … Continue reading →

An important policy debate in 2012 was around the level of unemployment benefits, with welfare groups such as ACOSS arguing people on Newstart could be too poor to look for work (as reported on news.com.au). I have some sympathy for … Continue reading →

I’m unsurprised by Wayne Swan’s announcement the surplus is unachievable – it always was, even when the outlook was better, as I posted on previously (Budget turnaround looks implausible in Treasurer’s chart). Also the Queensland budget update today contained no surprises, … Continue reading →

I’ve previously posted on the higher rate of obesity in Queensland than in other States (Qld leads Australia on obesity), and no doubt a major contributor is the lower rate of participation in sport and physical recreation in Queensland than … Continue reading →

OESR has published a useful information brief on today’s new ABS population data, from which I’ve copied the chart below showing Queensland is still performing reasonably well in population growth terms. The ABS media release on the data is worth a read. … Continue reading →

There is some good news for our tourism sector reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin this morning, and I expect the news will be similar at other holiday destinations across Queensland (Occupancy up at Gold Coast hotels): MANY Gold Coast … Continue reading →

The news.com.au article Queensland Police are zeroing in on crime, and a planned street map of offences will be just a click away alerted me to the Queensland Government data website, which, while incomplete, represents an impressive start to making the huge … Continue reading →